I've only been to LHR a couple times but it sure seemed like they must not appreciate spotters over there. They had tall fences capped with razor wire all over the place and no obvious spotting areas where I was roaming around. Even as a paying passenger just trying to take a quick picture through the nasty discolored Plexiglas of T3 the security folks nearly tackled my ass and told me I would surely regret it if I tried another stunt like that again. It was truly a major disappointment for such a target-rich environment.

So, among those who know LHR better than I do, what exactly would you expect from this visit? Would you expect the security folks are going to chill out a bit or are they going to continue to make the whole experience far more difficult than it has to be? I remember reading about the difficulties some people had taking pictures of the Concorde before it left service and I'm wondering if they finally did something to resolve the issue since then. I haven't been there since 2004, so anything new since then is news to me.

Just kidding. Even little old me could be tempted by the sight of seeing it make its way over Myrtle Grove for the first time, even though I'm still peeved at Airbus right now, in particular one of their aircraft!

Quoting Nighthawk (Reply 16):What time is it arriving on saturday? Do i need to come down friday night or saturday morning..?

That's something I'd really like to know too. Fares from LBA are ok Fri-Sun, but then BD do their usual Dick Turpin performance for Sat-Sun flights when compared to MAN prices.

Windsor was a lovely setting last summer for a meal when a few A.Netters descended on LHR (even though the heavens opened!). Any more recommendations, Lee? Remember it needs to be Horlicks and bed at 21:00 prompt for us older folks.

Attendance:

Leezyjet (29/30th If not working - when I'll watch airside)
EZYAirbus
kaz - subjet to work
British767
skidmarks (maybe - April is a busy month)
Capital146 (maybe)

P!$$ Up on Sat evening:

Leezyjet (if not on a night shift !!)
EZYAirbus
kaz
British767 (maybe depending if I am in a hotel or not)
Capital146 (maybe)

Quoting Capital146 (Reply 17):Windsor was a lovely setting last summer for a meal when a few A.Netters descended on LHR (even though the heavens opened!). Any more recommendations, Lee? Remember it needs to be Horlicks and bed at 21:00 prompt for us older folks.

I'm not Lee but I'd like to add my input...now that I live in the area

To be honest, Windsor is the nicest area around, with the best bars etc. All the other areas are typical towns, and they shut down after 6pm.

Quoting Capital146 (Reply 17):Windsor was a lovely setting last summer for a meal when a few A.Netters descended on LHR

Thats kind of what I had in mind Dave. It's close to LHR, and not full of chavs like Slough or Uxbridge, and people can choose their level of involvment - i.e. just stay in the bars/pubs or go onto a club after. Kingston is ok too, but not many bars and the clubs are very £££. Other than that, it's Central London which again ends up being £££. (Although School Disco.Com is on in Hammersmith on a Saturday night which is pretty good - lots of eye candy too, and the night bus runs straight back to LHR !!!).

I know that some people didn't like my choice of restaurant last time, but for the price and how late we booked, trying to find anywhere else that late in the day with good food and reasonable prices that could fit in 20 people on a Sat night would have been near on impossible. I'm not bothered about doing a restaurant again, just prefer to go drinking. If anyone wants to eat though, there are loads of good places in Windsor.

I recall the last time i met up with A.net people. I was expecting you all to be a bunch of weird, aviation freaks.......and you truely all were.

Would i like to repeat this rather perverse experience? possibly. But i'll definitely be seeing the A380, and i'll inevitably suffer the horrific misfortune of bumping into you all, so you may as well count me in!

2. Looking for flights departing on the 27th arriving the 28th morning, OR departing the 28th morning, arriving Heathrow 28th evening. Departing LHR on the 1st of May. Would that give me ample time? The least nights in a hotel, the better (and cheaper).

In which location do you plann to spot ?
I agree with SATX (see reply #14) that security personell will be on even a higher level of non-tolerance ...

When A380 made its trials at FRA end of October 2005, public areas from which the a/c could be watched during docking & loading trials were sealed off - and in order to prevent that (tens of ?) thousands of spotters surround LHR´s fences and clogg up the Perimeter Roads I assume that security personell will try to move spotters ...

Any ideas in this respect ?
-HT

Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !

Ok I have been doing my research and do believe this trip is possible If I do make it I will be coming down from CPH to LHR either with Varig or BA. Will arrive the evening of the 28th and leave the afternoon of the 30th

Also looking for help on the hotel.

Attendance-

Leezyjet (29/30th If not working - when I'll watch airside)
EZYAirbus
kaz - subjet to work
British767
skidmarks (maybe - April is a busy month)
Capital146 (maybe)
SmithAir747
Jap (maybe... depending on fares, etc.)
Kaddyuk
RyanGooner (already off that weekend result)
Nighthawk
UTA_flyinghigh (arriving 08:15 terminal 1 on BD120)
Airplanepics (If I can get time off work, I'm there!)
JamieD
Runway23
Muddydwagon (maybe my first pay is not deposited in to the bank till end of march)

Quoting Nighthawk (Reply 46):Why?? BA to LHR was just £64. Easyjet -> STN then train through london will cost you more than that!

That's exactly what I was saying to my dad when we were looking @ hotels just off LHR. So if I do go down on BA I think I'll be on the same flights as Nighthawk. That's the earliest flight as I can go on.